Snowdon Troop Summer Camp 2017

5th March 2017 by a_gaunt

We are pleased to announce the initial details of summer camp 2017 – please download and read Summer Camp 2017 – 28th Snowdon Troop – Initial Letter

We are running a joint camp with the 29th Croydon Scouts this year – in recent years both our troop and the 29th have had less Scouts attend camp than they hoped for, this makes it difficult to run a full, fun programme at a reasonable cost – so by joining forces, we hope to get a good size group of Scouts together and have an awesome time !

As you will see in the initial letter – the dates are Saturday 22nd – Saturday 29th July. We will be camping in a field right on the border of the New Forest which will provide the venue for many of the activities we will be doing. It is a beautiful location, ideal for a brilliant camping experience.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the leaders – we look forward to a great camp and hope most of the Scouts will be able to come.

Scafell and Nevis Bude Summer Camp 2016

4th August 2016 by Claire Shadbolt

Our tentsDay one – Saturday

The day started early at 6:30 meeting in Elmers End.  17 people are in the mini bus, the remaining six are in two cars and all our kit is in the trailer.  Then for the long journey to Bude in Cornwall.

We arrive in good spirits and set up camp.  That takes the rest of the afternoon.  We have a quick wide game then supper and bed.

Swim safeDay two – Sunday, our busy day.

By 9:00 we are off in the mini bus to Church in Launceston.  I was very proud of our 16 scouts and young leaders looking smart in their uniform, well behaved and attentive.

Then it was a dash back to Bude, a quick change and onto Swim Safe.  It was a shame it was in horrible weather.  But if you are in a wetsuit and in the sea pool then you are not really going to feel the rain.

Swim Safe was held in Bude Sea Pool.  This pool is naturally refreshed twice a day by the incoming tide.  Our scouts learnt beach safety and in-water tuition.

Hike routeAfter the Swim Safe we had a quick change and a bite to eat.  We sheltered from the last of the rain before setting out on our hike.

It was a challenging hike, up and down clifts along the scenic South West Coast Path, from Bude to Duckpool, then around Coombe Valley.  We cut the hike short at the end of Coombe Valley.  Our late start (due to rain) meant we were running late at that point.

We wrapped the day up with wide game on the beach.

KayakingDay three – Monday, kayaking and surfing

Monday saw us dividing into two groups to do kayaking and surfing.  The waves were “huge”, so we changed from sea kayaking to kayaking along the canal.  It also meant that the surfing was challenging and our scouts rose the challenge.

In the afternoon we went to Summerleaze beach for body boarding and beach fun.  The waves were the biggest I have seen in years.  The body boarding was exhilarating.

We welcome our last participant, Gary, who joined us for the rest of the week.  We wrapped the day up with yet another wide game on the beach.

Adventure courseDay four – Tuesday, cycling and adventure course

On Tuesday we divided into four groups and went cycling.  We did more of the South West Coast Path, this time heading south and then along Bude Canal.  That burnt off some energy.

After lunch we did a trip into town for the scouts to spend all their pocket money.  Sainsburys and the Co-op were the most popular shops, as the scouts had worked out they could get cheap sweets and pop.  Our scouts were demonstrating budgeting.

In the afternoon we did an adventure course – space hoppers, custard tunnels, custard in wellies then sliding down the water slide trying to avoid the attentions of the rest of the scouts armed with water pistols and soaking sponges.

Video playing on the adventure course

Video – more playing on the adventure course

And guess how we rounded the day off – yep a wide game on the beach.

Burying the dead jellyfishDay five – Wednesday, Coasteering and BBQ on the beach

Wednesday saw us travelling to Tintagle and into the bay for Coasteering.

Before we started leaping off rocks and clifts, we had a special occasion to mark.  We invested Bobby as an Assistant Scout Leader.  We all swam out to Central Rock to witness Bobby saying his promise and receive his woggle.  That poor scarf was wet on its first outing.

The afternoon saw us back on the beach.  Unfortunately the wave conditions were too rough, so body boarding was stopped quite quickly.  We still had fun having games of badminton, cricket, burying scouts and chilling.  We stayed on the beach for the rest of the evening having a BBQ.  It was very beautiful watching the sun setting whilst eating a burger.

And we still had a wide game before bed.

Investiture

Coasteering

More coasteering

 

SurfingDay six – Thursday, surfing and kayaking take two

Thursday again saw us dividing into two groups to do kayaking and surfing.  The waves were still challenging, so again we changed from sea kayaking to kayaking along the canal.

The afternoon saw us having activities at the campsite.  Sober beer pong was a firm favourite.  This involved two benches placed 10 metres apart with a bucket of water placed on each bench.  The players need to stay behind the bench and trow tennis balls into the opposite bucket.  The first team to get three balls in the bucket wins.  You can imagine the excitement when B and J lost to Claire and Gary.  Claire and Gary really enjoyed throwing a bucket of water over their sons!

Kayaking

Throwing a dab

Chicken run whilst kayaking

More kayaking

Packing away tentsDay seven – Friday, pack up and epic journey home

All good camps have to come to an end.  Friday saw us striking camp and leaving on time (amazing).  But the journey home did not go to plan.  Unfortunately the mini bus was stuck in countless traffic jams, including one where we went two miles in one hour and the M3 being closed.  Fortunately all the scouts were in good spirits and in was good fun in the bus.

 

Special thanks

Thank you to:

  • the leaders and young leaders for all the planning and energy whilst on camp.
  • the patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders for looking after your patrols
  • Bude Football Club for loaning us their site for camping and the clubhouse for cooking and eating.
  • Shoreline extreme sports for providing safe and exciting surfing, kayaking and coasteering.
  • the volunteers from ASA and the RNLI to running a special Swim Safe session just for us.
  • Bude Bikes for loaning us the cycles.
  • and for all the scouts for making the week the best ever.

 

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